MP gets flak

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Balurghat, Sept. 2: RSP MP Prasanta Majumdar’s presence at Mamata Banerjee’s programme in Buniadpur on Friday and his appreciative words for the chief minister after that have not gone down well with the party workers in South Dinajpur.

Majumdar, who was present at the Buniadpur when Mamata unveiled the foundation stone of a railway wagon factory, said after the programme: “From the beginning, the chief minister has been strengthening her relationship with the common people. The gathering at Buniadpur proves her popularity. I have never seen such a convergence (of people) in South Dinajpur in my political career.”

Sources said on Friday, Majumdar had reached Buniadpur almost an hour before the programme and stayed till the end.

“We have been fighting the Trinamul from the beginning. In other parts of the state, like Basanti and Gosaba, our cadres are being beaten up by Trinamul activists. We are fighting for our survival there and here, but our MP shared the dias with the chief minister and clapped (at her announcements). People will accuse us of playing a double role,” said an RSP leader.

It is not the first time that RSP workers have expressed unhappiness with Majumdar.

A few months ago, the MP’s comments that the chief minister was “friendly with cultivators” had sparked trouble in the party. Asked about why he had attended the Buniadpur event, Majumdar said: “I attended the programme in Buniadpur because of an invitation from the railways. It was a programme on the development of the district. Being an MP from Balurghat, it was necessary for me to attend the event. I think I was right. If anyone thinks otherwise, let him think. I am not bothered,” Majumdar said.

Although party insiders questioned Majumdar’s loyalty to the RSP, he said: “There is no question of quitting the RSP. There is no scope for controversy. I had gone to a government programme and my party leaders were informed.”

Biswanath Chowdhury, the RSP district secretary and former jails minister, said: “Majumdar went because he was invited. I don’t know why there is a controversy.”